Flying machine



Feb. 26, 1924. 1,485,163

F.BRAUN FLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 50 1923 INVENTOR:

FRANK B R AUN Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

FRANK BRAUN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

PATENT OFFICE.

FLYING MACHINE.

Application filed January 30, 1928. Serial No. 615,943.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK BRAUN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State 0f Cali.fornia, have invented a new and useful Flying Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines of the heavier-than-air type.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide wings that can be folded similar to the wings of birds. I

Another object is to provide wings that can be folded largely alongside of thesocalled body of flying machines.

Another object is to provide means by which the win 5 can be folded alongside of the body of a ying machine.

Another object is to provide a multitude of carrying surfaces or vanes similar to the multitude of various feathers of the wings of birds.

Other objects will appear from the following description and appended claims as well as from the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one wing, embodyin the invention in a plain form, illustrate in connection with the body of a flying machine in outline.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view'of the wingform of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a plain form of framework for supporting the wing, and by which the wing can be operated.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the form of framework illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a slightly modified form of framework for supporting a wing. I

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of an individual vane.

Fig. 7 is a cross section through one of the individual vanes, illustrating the reinforcement of the vanes.

Fig. 8 is a cross section illustrating a slightly modified form of reinforcement.

Fig. 9 is a cross section, illustrating another slightly modified form of reinforcement.

Fig. 10 is a cross section, illustrating still another slightly modified form of reinforcement.

Fig, 11 is a cross section, illustrating still another slightly modified form of-reinforcement.

connection with the individual vanes.

Fig. 12 is a cross section through a combination of vanes, illustrating the arrangement of having the individual vanes perforated, with the perforations off-set between the difi'erent vanes.

Birds, when in repose, generally fold their wings alongside of their bodies, with parts of these anterior limbs practically folded downwardly and partly around the bodies, and in other parts placed alongside of the bodies pointing practically rearwardly, the rearwardly extending portions normally carrying the larger feathers in a fan-like manner.

Many birds have the ability of apparently remaining stationary, while in mid-air, obviously by a suitable use of the many indi-' vidual feathers, properly co-acting.

It is one of the main objects of this invention to apply these principles to the wings of flying machines.

In Fig. 1, the body of a flying machine is indicated in outline at 13. Wings are pivotally connected to the body, as indicated at 14, so that the portion 15 of the wings can be folded downwardly against the body, as indicated in dotted lines at 16. The main framework of the wings is made in two principal portions similar to the structure of the wings of birds, in Fig. 1 itbeing the portion 15 and the portion 17. These two main portions are pivotally connected as indicated at 18, so that the portion 17 can be folded and placed in practically a longitudinal direction against the body 13, while the portion 15 is folded as stated above.

A number of vanes 19 are pivotally connected to the two main frame portions 15 and 17, as indicated at. 20, and are also pivotally interconnected as indicated at 21, in order to allow and cause a folding of the individual vanes together with the movements of the frame structure.

Bracing members 22 are provided so that oppositely arranged wings of a flying machine can be braced one by the other in the operative positions. These bracing members are preferably locked together by suitable looking or latching means, the shape or form of which is immaterial, as long as an interlocking of the opposite bracing members can be accomplished.

The controlling of the? frame structure is made, either, automatic or mechanical,- Iin 11 Figs. 3 and 4, the outer portion 17 is made to fold automatically with the folding of the portion 15, the additional bracing members 23 serving to cause the above-described rearward folding of the portion 17 whenever the portion 15 is folded downwardly.- Considering that the portion 15 can be folded to the position indicated in dotted lines at 24, so that the pivot-connection 18 will move in approximately the curve 25, the bracing 23 being so proportioned that the connecting point 26 of the swinging connecting rod 27 will move along the curve 28, illustrating, that the whole portion 17 may be folded in this manner to a practically horizontal position alongside of the body of a flying machine, since both curves meet at 29.

Such folding of the Wings facilitates a. transporting of flying machines, and allows a reducing of storing and hanger requirements. This folding also allows the use of wings to extend over a wide spread.

In Fig. 5, a folding mechanism of slightly modified form is illustrated. While the frame portion 15 is similarly supported as in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, to swing around a pivot in a plane at practically right angles to the longitudinal axis of a flying machine, and the wing-portion 17 is also similarly connected to the portion 15, to swing around the pivot 18; the portion 17 is operated in a slightly different manner in this form. Connecting links 30 are pivotally interconnected with the frame portions 15 and 17, so that, by a drawing on the end 31, the frame and wing portion 17 can be moved to a position parallel to the axis of the supporting pivot 14 and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flying machine to which this form is applied. After having folded the wing and frame portion 17 to such a position, the Wing and frame portion 15 can be folded downwardly against the body of a flying machine as described above.

The individual vanes are preferably reinforced by ribs, as indicated at 32 in Fig. 6, similar to the reinforcements of feathers of birds. Several slightly modified forms of reinforcements are illustrated in Figs. 6, '7, 8. 9, 1O and'll'. The reinforcement at 33 in Fig. 7 is of round cross section centrally within the vanes. The reinforcement indicated at 34 in Fig. 8 is applied to the top surface of the vane, and is of round cross section. It will, however, easily be understood that it is not material of just what cross section the reinforcement is made, nor how it is'applied to the vane. In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are, therefore, several other slightly modified forms illustrated in connection with a vane. In Fig. 9, at 35, a reinforcement of (practically triangular cross section is applie to top surface of the vane. In Fig. 11, at 36, a similar reinforcement is applied to the underside of the vane. In

Fig. 10, at 37, the material of the vane is even depressed or stamped or formed to represent the reinforcement for the vane. From the above, it will easily be understood that the forms of the reinforcements can. easily be modified to quite an extent without materially changing anything on the principle of the invention, and that other slightly modified forms of reinforcements may be provided within the scope of this invention. In addition to the one longitudinal reinforcement, illustrated in Fig. 6 at 32, other reinforcements of similar form can easily be provided at various relations to the main reinforcement, as indicated at 38 in Fig. 6.

In this manner, a very thin and light niaterial can be used for the vanes, assuring the necessary strength.

Since the vanes are partly interposing or overlapping one another, to avoid undesirable duplicating of material, and to assure lightness of the whole structure, the vanes are preferably perforated as indicated at 39 in Figs. 6 and 12. Such perforations are so arranged that the perforations in the several vanes do not aiign when the vanes are in proper position in a flying machine, in order to provide an even carrying capacity in the whole structure, air passing through the perforations in one vane being directed against an unperforated portion of the next vane.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a flying machine, a wing-structure having a pivot base by which the wingstructure can be swung in a vertical plane transversely to the longitudinal axis of the flying machine and having a bracing member projecting upwardly to a point above the upper surface of the wing=structure and above the pivot base to abut with a cooperating wing-structure above the flying machine in operative position when the wings,

are spread.

2. In a flying machine, a wing-structure having a pivot base by which the wingstructure can be swung in a vertical plane transversely to the longitudinal axis of the flying machine and having a bracing member projecting upwardly and extending beyond the pivot base so as to abut with a cooperating wing-structure above the flying machine.

3. In a flying machine, a wing-structure having a pivot base by which the wingstructure can swing in a plane transversely to the longitudinal axis of the flying machine and having a bracing member projecting from a point near the pivot base upwardly and arching beyond the pivot point so that the termination of the bracing member can abut against the termination of a cooperating member.

4. In a flying machine, a wing-structure having a pivot base by which the wingstructure can swin in a plane transversely to the longitudina axis of the flying machine and havin a bracing member projecting from a. point near the ivot base upwardly and arching beyond t e pivot base so that the termination of the bracing member can abut against the termination of a coopterating member in operative and spread 10 pos1 ion, and having a locking member for securely engaging 'with the cooperating member in operative and spread position and adapted to allow a folding of the Wingstructure with the bracing member separating fromthe coo rating member.

In testimony that claim theforegoing as my invention I have signed my name in the presence of two subseribin witnesses.

FR NK BRAUN. Witnesses:

O. H. Knunonn, JESSIE A. MANQCK. 

